Seating Device Adaptable To Accommodate Varying Support Conditions

ABSTRACT

A seating device employing an interaction of components to include an engineered multi surface rear stabilizer component comprised of a rotatable object engagement piece working in conjunction with an adjustable support piece granting the ability to lock in position by means of a binding style fastener. This multi surface rear stabilizer is mounted to one end of a two-piece sleeve type, length adjustable trunk, capable of four-sided rotation granting the center fulcrum design of the foot piece to be employed in any direction as well as the closed position. This device employs a rotatably connected seat to a swing arm style piece connected to the trunk granting the ability to incrementally adjust from parallel to perpendicular to the associated trunk.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of application No. 62/830,836 filed2019 Apr. 8

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The seating device of the present disclosure represents a deviceengineered with specific features to adapt to the obstacles that occuras a result of the constant changes and diverse conditions in naturethat affect the quality and success of outdoor experiences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating devices are currently available on the market that contain manydeficits regarding adaptation to the natural environment that thepresent disclosure overcomes. Currently available devices are unable toaccommodate compound angles at both the seat and foot ends whilesimultaneously adapting to size, unusual surface features, andcomposition complexities of the immediate environment.

A need therefore exists for a device capable of adapting to thecombination of unique features presented by the natural environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this embodiment, the overall length of the seating device both at theminimum and maximum extensions may be based on the height of a typicaluser, such as a six-foot adult. At its maximum extension, the seatingdevice can accommodate a near-standing position while maintaining acomfortable seat angle. The minimum position achievable may allow theseating device to rest just inches from the most horizontal surface andprovide increments that include a standard chair height, again whilemaintaining a comfortable seat angle.

In this embodiment, the resulting exposed section of the inner trunkpiece when the device is at its minimal position dictates the fulllength of the center fulcrum foot stabilizer. This length is equal tothe width of the object engagement piece of the multi surface rearstabilizer. It is designed to symmetrically distribute and balance theweight between the top and bottom of the seating device.

In this embodiment, the length of the swing arm may be determined bytaking into consideration the necessary measurement to place center massof the user a comfortable distance from a potential backrest whilemaintaining a rear leaning center of gravity on the device. In the fullhorizontal adaptation this places the user equidistant between the frontand rear points of contact with the surface allowing for a centerbalanced three-hundred-and-sixty-degree rotation of the seat.

In this embodiment, the depth of the seat may be determined by theoverall width of the object engagement piece of the multi surface rearstabilizer. It is designed to the maximum width of the total device whenin its compact travel position. The width of the center pivot seat wasdetermined by doubling the measurement from the pivot point of the seatattachment on the swing arm to the lower edge of the outer trunk piece.

In this embodiment, the overall length of the engagement support pieceof the multi surface rear stabilizer was determined by taking intoaccount the length necessary for this piece to adjust fully on its pivotpoint and freely clear the swing arm component in addition to the lengthnecessary to allow clearance between the fastening hardware that securesit to the object engagement piece and the upper trunk piece at the otherend. Consideration of length was also made to properly place the centermass of the user an appropriate distance from a potential backrest.

In this embodiment, the center fulcrum foot stabilizer is designed sothat it can achieve angles anywhere from parallel with the inner trunkpiece all the way to one hundred thirty-five degrees. This design allowsthe piece to adapt to uneven ground, as well as to things like rocks androots that may be in the way.

One common example would be near the base of just about every tree innature. The roots radiate from the trunk at varying sizes and depths.Utilizing the center fulcrum foot stabilizer, the inner trunk piece canbe placed on the ground next to, and on either side of these roots,while automatically adjusting by creating an angle that applies pressureevenly on the high point and low point by way of the center pivot of thecenter fulcrum foot stabilizer.

In this embodiment, if space is narrow and linear, the inner trunk piececan be removed and rotated to four different positions to allow thecenter fulcrum foot stabilizer to run parallel with the available spacewhile still utilizing the full length of the foot at all angles.

In unique cases wherein a surface presents the opportunity for only aminimal footprint, the center fulcrum foot stabilizer can be closed tothe parallel position with the inner trunk piece to create a narrowpoint that provides a secure footing between the surface features.

In the robust version of the embodiment being described, the C channeldesign of the center fulcrum foot stabilizer lends great stability tothe device whether there is a hard surface or conditions of deepfoliage, pine needles, or sand. In its design, one side is always flatwhile the other has two deep edges backed by a flat face. With these twofeatures employed adaptability is enhanced.

In horizontal use of the seating device, the center fulcrum footstabilizer, being of equal width to the object engagement piece andperpendicular to the inner trunk piece, stability is created by makingcontact with the surface at an equal distance from center at both endsand placing opposing pressure at four corners.

When the inner trunk piece contains evenly spaced adjustment holesreflective of one another on all four sides, this piece has the abilityto rotate three hundred and sixty degrees, by ninety-degree increments,to change the orientation of the center fulcrum foot stabilizer. Thisadjustment can also be made at all increments of the trunk extensionbetween the inner trunk piece and the outer trunk piece. These holeslend the ability to incrementally adjust the height of the center pivotseat from sitting flat to almost a full stand, including within astandard chair height. This component was designed for comfort anddurability in mind.

Noting that sitting parallel with the ground is one of the mostimportant aspects of remaining comfortable for any amount of time, inthis embodiment, the entirety of the seat angle adjustment system hingeson a single axis. This design defines strength through simplicity. Byutilizing evenly spaced holes along the lower edge of the swing arm, thestress is distributed between two very solid points. This design alsoallows for a full parallel to perpendicular arrangement of the centerpivot seat making it useful in all situations.

In this embodiment, the position of the center pivot seat on the swingarm not only balances the weight of the user versus the object againstwhich the seating device is engaging, it also places the user thecorrect distance from the object so that the object may be used as abackrest.

The center pivot of the seat lends the ability to smoothly and silentlyrotate from right to left all the while absent of any upper bodymovement or weight redistribution. This can greatly minimize the bodymovement necessary to alter your field of view or body orientation andminimizes noise generated therefrom.

The freedom of rotation employed by the multi surface engagement systemprovides the ability to engage any surface at the optimal angle forstability and silence. This includes any abnormality in tree shape allthe way to ledges and vertical fissures in rock. It always adjusts tofind the optimal angle.

In this embodiment, the engagement support piece employs an anglelocking device to apply clamping pressure to fix the piece at theselected angle. This angle works in conjunction with the orientation ofthe trunk component (e.g. outer plus inner trunk pieces) to the objector surface and with the seat angle adjustment system to allow acomfortable horizontal seat angle for any combination of situations.

The many adjustment features of the multi surface rear stabilizerremoves any challenges presented by an ever-changing naturalenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 from left to right is a front view and a side view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer trunk piece.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner trunk piece.

FIG. 4 following top to bottom is a side view, and top view of thecenter fulcrum foot stabilizer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the swing arm component.

FIG. 6 from left to right to bottom a side view and top view of thecenter pivot seat, and top view of the foam pad component of centerpivot seat.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the multi surface adjustable rear stabilizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The components of the most robust example of the seating device aredescribed below in detail. Those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that the seating device detailed immediately below is merelyone example of many seating devices that can be made using one or moreof the unique features disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1 a front view and side view displays the assembledseating device made in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2 the outer trunk piece (T1) comprises a square tubethat has three pass-through holes. The top hole (H1) provides apass-through hole that corresponds with the holes (H13) of themulti-surface rear stabilizer transition bracket (MRS2) (from FIG. 7)that align in such a way to allow the angle locking device (ALD1) (fromFIG. 7) to pass through both pieces and be tightened causing them to bein a fixed position.

The second hole (H2) provides a pass-through hole that aligns with theswing arm holes (H5) (from FIG. 5) allowing the swing arm to pivot on afulcrum from this point in relation to the outer trunk piece.

The third hole (H3) provides a pass through to work in combination withthe height adjustment holes (HAH) of the inner trunk piece (T2) (fromFIG. 3) to adjust the length of the combined trunk piece.

Referring to FIG. 3 the inner trunk piece (T2) comprises a square tubedesigned to conformally fit within and slide inside the outer trunkpiece (from FIG. 2) with minimal tolerance. It contains evenly spacedheight adjustment holes (HAH) reflective of one another on all foursides covering one half of its total length. These holes work inconjunction with hole (H3) from the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2)to secure both trunk pieces in a fixed position to a fixed length.

The height adjustment holes (HAH) of the inner trunk piece (T2) beingreflective of one another on all four sides allows it to be removed fromthe outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2) and rotated to show each of thefour faces in the forward position according to necessity. This alsoallows the center-fulcrum foot stabilizer (FS1) (from FIG. 4) that ismounted to the lower section of the inner trunk piece (T2) the option ofall four directions.

In this embodiment, the lower section of the inner trunk piece (T2) hasan angle of forty-five degrees to provide a single side cutting edge forcontact with the substrate of the chosen location. The lower section ofthe inner trunk piece (T2) contains a hole (H4) through two sidesmeasuring to the center of the lower section of the inner trunk pieceallowing connection to the center fulcrum foot stabilizer (FS1) (fromFIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 4 the center fulcrum foot stabilizer is comprised of asquare tube dimensionally sized to fit over the inner trunk piece (fromFIG. 3) with minimal resistance.

The length of the center fulcrum foot stabilizer is sized to cover thelower section of the inner trunk piece (T2) (from FIG. 3) while notimpeding on the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2) section when theouter trunk piece and the inner trunk piece are locked in the overallminimum length position. Starting from its center point, the centerfulcrum foot stabilizer has, on opposing sides and the full widthacross, a section removed measuring twice the width of the inner trunkpiece.

Centered on the remaining faces of this section is a hole to accept themounting hardware which passes through center fulcrum foot stabilizerand holes (H4) of the lower section of the inner trunk piece (T2) (fromFIG. 3), creating a fulcrum on which the center fulcrum foot stabilizer(FS1) can pivot.

The remaining lengths of the square tubing of the center fulcrum footstabilizer on either side of the removed center section shall have oneface of full width on opposing sides removed creating opposing “C”channels, allowing the center fulcrum foot stabilizer to pivot to acomplete parallel with the inner trunk piece on one side and a greaterangle on the other. This allows the inner trunk piece (T2) (from FIG. 3)to rest inside of the center fulcrum foot stabilizer and to aperpendicular position as well.

Referring to FIG. 5 the swing arm comprises a rectangular tube, heresized one point five times the width of outer trunk piece (T1) (fromFIG. 2) on its wider faces and opposing faces have inside dimensionssized to fit over the outside dimensions of the outer trunk piece (T1)(from FIG. 2) with minimal resistance. One face of the shorter dimensionis removed to create a “C” channel.

At one end of the remaining shorter dimension face, a section is removedmeasuring full width by a length of one point two five times that of theouter dimension of the outer trunk piece, allowing it to pivot fromparallel to perpendicular relative to outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG.2).

At the same end but on the wider faces is a hole (H5). This hole (H5) iscentered on the wider face and from the end is centered on the removedportion of the shorter dimension. This hole (H5) will accept themounting hardware to pass through the swing arm (SA1) and correspondwith hole (H2) located on the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2),creating a pivot point for the swing arm (SA1) to hinge on the outertrunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2).

There are evenly spaced holes (H6) running the length of the swing arm(SA1), here along a centerline located from the open edge of the wideface by a distance of one third the total width. These holes (H6) arepresent on both legs of the U-shaped transverse cross section of theswing arm to allow for the through-insertion of fastening hardware thatwill rest on the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2) as the swing angleof the swing arm (SA1) is adjusted.

On the same two faces is also a hole (H7) located at the opposite end ashole (H5). In this example, these holes (H5, H7) are centered at onequarter of the total dimension of the wide face as measured from theopen edge as well as the end. Hole (H7) will accept through insertion ofhardware and will not interfere with the outer trunk piece when theouter trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2) and the swing arm (SA1) are in theparallel position relative to one another.

On the remaining narrower dimensioned face of the swing arm, and at theopposite end of where a section was removed, is a hole (H8). In thisexample, this hole (H8) is centered on the face and measures one quarterof the total length of (SA1) away from the solid end of this face. Thishole (H8) will accept mounting hardware to attach the center pivot seat(CPS1) (from FIG. 6) using the corresponding hole (H9) from the centerpivot seat.

Referring to FIG. 6 the center pivot seat measures six inches wide bytwelve inches long and has a hole (H9) centered on both length and widthto allow mounting hardware to pass through along with corresponding hole(H8) from the swing arm (SA1) (from FIG. 5) connecting the swing arm(SA1) and the center-pivot seat on a pivot point.

In this example, attached to one face of the center-pivot seat (CPS1) isa foam pad (CPS2) of equal length and width to that of the center-pivotseat (CPS1). This pad (CPS2) has one hole (H10) centered on both widthand length to allow mounting hardware for the center pivot seat (CPS1)to pass through.

Referring to FIG. 7 an example multi surface adjustable rear stabilizeris illustrated. In this example, the multi-surface adjustable rearstabilizer consists of three components, an object engagement piece(MRS1) and an engagement support piece (MRS2), which together areconnected by mounting hardware and an angle locking device (ALD1) to theouter trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2).

In this example, the object engagement piece (MRS1) is constructed of anopen V-shaped portion having a center portion approximately twice thethickness of each arm and that measures one third the total width of theV-shaped portion. Located at the center of the V-shape and centered onits width is a hole (H11) to allow mounting hardware (not labeled) topass through and connect together the object engagement piece (MRS1) andthe engagement support piece (MRS2).

In the embodiment shown, the inside surface of the V-shaped portion hasa zig-zag tooth design. These teeth may be absent immediately near (H11)to allow the object engagement piece (MRS1) to rotate a full threehundred and sixty degrees without imposition of associated hardware.

The engagement support piece (MRS2) is coupled to the object engagementpiece (MRS1) at one end and to the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2)at the other end.

In this example, the engagement support piece (MRS2) comprises a squaretube that is closed at one end and is sized to fit over the outer trunkpiece (T1) (from FIG. 2) plus hardware with minimal resistance. In thepresent embodiment, the length of the engagement support piece (MRS2) istwo and half times the width of the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG.2). One face of the engagement support piece (MRS2), starting at theclosed end, has been removed by its full length and width. The opposingface (starting at the closed end) has two thirds of the face removed byfull width. This leaves a one-third section of that face that wheninstalled will be on the same side of the outer trunk piece (T1) (fromFIG. 2) as the center pivot seat (CPS1) (from FIG. 6).

The closed end has a hole (H12) centered on the square to acceptfastening hardware (not labeled) connecting the engagement support piece(MRS2) to the object engagement piece (MRS1).

On the remaining full-length intact faces is a hole (H13) centered onits width and measuring a distance from the open end of the engagementsupport piece (MRS2) equal to one third the overall length of theengagement support piece (MRS2). This hole (H13) is sized to accept thepass-through of the angle locking device (ALD1). The engagement supportpiece (MRS2) will be engaged over the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG.2), aligning holes (H13) from the engagement piece support (MRS2) andholes (H1) from the outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2). The anglelocking device (ALD1) passes through both sets of holes connectingtogether the engagement support piece (MRS2) and the outer trunk piece(T1) (from FIG. 2).

Still referring to FIG. 7 the angle locking device (ALD1) may be aquick-release type of binder clamp bolt of appropriate length to passthrough holes (H13) of engagement support piece (MRS2) and holes (H1) ofthe outer trunk piece (T1) (from FIG. 2) and function as designed toapply clamping pressure to hold these pieces at a selected angle.

There are less robust versions composed of varying mixtures ofalternative versions of each component that can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and intent of the present disclosure. Theembodiment just described characterizes a robust version of the device.

1. A seating device comprising: a trunk having a longitudinal axis, afirst end, and a second end spaced from the first end along thelongitudinal axis; a seat secured to the trunk by a swing arm piece(from FIG. 5) used to adjust an angle of the seat relative to thelongitudinal axis of the trunk; and a multi surface engagement system(MRS1+MRS2+ALD1) (from FIG. 7) engaged with the trunk at the first endof the trunk, the multi surface engagement system including an objectengagement piece (MRS1) and an engagement support piece (MRS2) (bothfrom FIG. 7) securing the object engagement piece to the trunk in anyone of a plurality of different positions relative to the trunk.
 2. Theseating device of claim 1, further comprising a foot stabilizer securedto the trunk at the second end of the trunk.
 3. The seating device ofclaim 2, wherein the foot stabilizer is movably secured to the trunk. 4.The seating device of claim 3, where the foot stabilizer is a centerfulcrum foot stabilizer (from FIG. 4) pivotably secured to the trunk. 5.The seating device of claim 1, wherein the seat has a central pivotpoint rotatable three hundred and sixty degrees secured to the swing armpiece (FIG. 5).
 6. The seating device of claim 1, wherein the trunkcomprises an outer trunk piece (FIG. 2) providing the first end and aninner trunk piece (FIG. 3) providing the second end.
 7. The seatingdevice of claim 6, wherein the inner trunk piece (FIG. 3) is slidablyengaged within the outer trunk piece (FIG. 2).
 8. The seating device ofclaim 1, wherein the object wherein the object engagement piece (MRS1)(from FIG. 7) has a V-shape and is rotatably secured to the engagementsupport piece (MRS2) (from FIG. 7) so as to trace out a frustum of acone when rotated.
 9. A seating device as shown in any one or more ofthe drawings of this disclosure.
 10. A seating device as disclosedherein employing the multi surface engagement system (MRS1+MRS2+ALD1)(from FIG. 7).